The failings of my Jewish education

I attended public elementary school in Brooklyn, NY. At that time, all students had the option of leaving public school early to attend religious instruction twice a week. I, and many other children, both Jewish and Catholic (Protestants were non-existent or invisible) participated in this program. The religious instruction at our local synagogue was a disaster. We received no teaching in Jewish law or ethics, and none in the Hebrew language. Our entire instruction consisted of sitting at a desk and listening to a rabbi translate bible passages phrase by phrase, without any interpretation whatsoever of the significance of any of the text. This was, of course, extremely tedious to the kids, and we paid minimal attention. If this was intended to teach us anything about the Jewish religion, it failed miserably. If the intention was to teach us the Hebrew language, it also failed miserably. I don't remember much more than "Vayomer - he said" and "Melech Yisrael - King of Israel." How could anyone in his right mind consider this a Jewish education?